Lilly



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. J. WHEAT. TENSION LIBERATOR FOR SEWING MAUHINES. No. 285,535. vPatented Sept. 25, 1883.

WIJVLLVSESC- I I L-WENTOII.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J! J. WHEAT.

TENSION LIBERATQB FOR SEWING MAGHINES. No. 285,535. Patented Sept. 25,1883.

N. PETERS. Plwwumu n m, wnmn tm llc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. WHEAT, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES LILLY,OFSAME PLACE.

TENSION-LIBERATOR FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,535, datedSeptember 25, 1883, Application filed March 24, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. WHEAT, of Indianapolis, Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Liberating theTension and Raising the Presser-Bar in Sewing-Machines, of which thefollowing is a description, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in the several figures of which like letters indicate likeparts.

My invention is designed to provide a simple and easy means ofliberating the tension of the thread, and at the same time to enable theoperator, if he desires, to lift the presser-bar by a separate deviceconveniently located contiguous to the former, as will be readily seenby the following description.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the head with the face-plate removed.Fig. 2 is a rear View, showing thelevers and their connections, the headitself being shown in cross-section, or cut away, to allow the otherparts to be seen. Fig. 3 is a'detail view of the levers,with a part ofthe sleeve broken out, showing the pin. Fig. 4 is a verticalcross-section of the arm, showing the cam on the tension-shaft and thespring-bar and cap. Fig. 5 is a side view of a part of the arm, showingin part in horizontal section the tension-shaft and cam and therevolving shaft above it.

In detail, A is the stationary arm of the machine. Ts is thetension-shaft, carrying the cam ck. sb is a spring-bar working in a bosson the arm and through the cap as and tensionnut Sn, which latter workson a thread on the springbar, and is for adjusting the pressure upon thespring 8 9. The tension-shaft Ts terminates in a crank, K, having aconnectingrod, Or, which works on a pin having bearings in an armrigidly connected to a sleeve, S, which has a thumb-lever, Tl,- integralwith such sleeve, the latterrotating upon a pin, 19, screwed into thestationary arm. Side by side with the tension thumb-lever Tl is a twinlever,

' Pbl, mounted on the same pin, which lifts the presser-bar Pb by meansshown in Fig. 1.

It will be seen upon examination of Fig. 3 that the operator mayreadily, by the pressure of the thumb, move both the tension andpresser-bar Qlevers simultaneously, and that they are also adapted to bemoved independently of each other.

The tension device shown in Fig. 4 is only given by way of illustration,and I make no claim to it, and do not intend to limit myself to the useof a similar device in connection with my invention. In this, however,the thread passes between the cap as and the boss on the arm, and whenby themovement of the tension-shaft, operated through the thumb-leverTl, the cam ck is thrown up against the end of the spring-bar 872 thelatter is pushed out, carrying with it the cap as away from the face ofthe boss, freeing the thread from pressure and loosening it. When thecam is removed, the coiled spring exerts its force, the bar sb movesback, bringing the cap as against the face of the boss, clamping thethread sufficiently to make the required tension. The latter may beregulated by the screw-nut Sn when desired.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. In a tension-liberating device for sewingmachines, the combination,with a tension device, of a shaft leading therefrom through the arm tothe head and terminating in a'crank,

said crank connected with a sleeve mounted upon a pin upon the head ofthe machine capable of being rotated, so as to actuate the crank, and athumb-lever connected with the sleeve for actuating the same,substantially as described.

2. The presser-bar lever Pbl, the presserbar Pb, in contact with saidlever, the pivot 2, on which said lever is mounted, the thumblever Tl,the sleeve S, on which said thumblever is mounted, the crank-rod Or,crank K, tension-shaft Ts, and a tension device, all combined andoperating substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand this 17th day of March,1883.

- JOHN J. WHEAT.

Witnesses:

O. P. JACOBS, O. S; SPRITZ.

